During this match Esbjerg FB were more dominant, creating a good opportunities in attack but weren’t clinical enough. AC Horsens surprised Esbjerg first, after great work from Jeppe Kjaer, who gave a precious assist to Hallur Hansson. Before the half-time, Rafal Kurzawa take advantage of a defensive error to equalise. The second half was the same story. Esbjerg struggled to finish while AC Horsens took advantage after a great individual work of Ayo Simon Okusun. AC Horsens could have secured the win but Bjarke Jacobsen missed a penalty.
Jeppe Kjaer
Player profile:
- Nationality: Danish
- Age: 16
- Date of birth: 01/03/2004
- Current Club: AC Horsens
- Career: AC Horsens
- Position: Right wing
- Secondary Position: Attacking Midfield / False 9
- Preferred foot: Left
Before this game, Jeppe Kjaer already played 119 minutes across 5 matches but this match was his first start with his team in Superligaen. He started on the right side of midfield in this 4-4-2 system. He played 59 minutes during this match.
He had freedom to roam and find good positions, he left the right side, varying his position in the half-space or even in the axis to get the ball in a lower position and launch transition with this acceleration on the ball. In a wide position, he offers a vertical position, allowing him to cut inside and get easily onto his dangerous left foot, able to create danger and look to create or shoot.
The best situations during the first half-time came from him. In the first goal of the match, he occupied an wide position, he received and showed his technical ability with his left foot, eliminating in his first touch the defender and dismarking from him to dominate the space and penetrate the box into tight space where he could find Hallur Hansson with a smart pass who scored. The second best situation he created was in a wide position on the right side, he gets on his left foot to find the weak side with a precise long pass in the area for Hallur Hansson to score his second goal of the match. For a team who struggled to create attacking situation, Jeppe Kjaer showed his influence with his good vision game and technical ability to make a difference in the final third.
He’s a technical player with a strong left foot, his ball control is precise and allows him to drive the ball quickly, keeping control, varying the rhythm of his run and also taking advantage in tight space. He showed more difficulty when he had to use his right foot, with a feew heavy first touches and losing the ball. With this difficulty to play with his right foot, the defenders could take advantage to isolate him on the right side and limiting his activity if he didn’t succeed in bringing speed on his play.
Defensively, he was more aware with good anticipation in defence, making 3 interceptions. In challenges, he showed difficulty when he had to confront physical defenders but at 16 will improve at this as he develops and gets more experience at the senior level. He adjusted his play to limit the contact and compensate it to take advantage with his position play.
Rating – A2
With a short period of play, Jeppe Kjaer showed that he has the quality and the talent to influence a game. In the minutes he’s gotten, he’s already got two assists and created several attacking situations. His technical ability helps him to dominate spaces and put him in a good position to create danger. For now, he doesn’t have the physicality to play or challenge during 90 minutes, but his technical qualities and intelligence permit him to mark the difference. He will need time to grow up but what he is showing his very promising.
Target Scouting 